Health-related quality of life in abdominal wall hernia: let's ask patients what matters to them?

Quality of Life (QoL) is an important consideration in patients with abdominal wall hernia (AWH). What matters to patients and their everyday experience living with AWH may depend on a variety of personal, psychological, social and environmental factors. At present, no study has addressed what is important to this particular group of patients by asking the patients themselves. This study aims to determine QoL from the patient's perspective by examining the lived experience in this patient population. We interviewed 15 patients with AWH until thematic saturation. The patients were purposively sampled from AWH clinic between February 2020 and June 2020 using topic guides and interview schedules. Verbatim interview transcripts were coded and analysed using NVivo12 software and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). We adhered to consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ). Fifteen participants (8 men and 7 women) of age range 36-85 years, median 65 years, covering all Ventral Hernia Working Group (VHWG) grades. Five superordinate themes were identified each with several subordinate themes, as follows: (1) body image (subthemes-'changes to perceptions of self' and 'fears concerning perceptions of others'). (2) Mental health (subthemes-'emotional responses', 'disruptions to previously solid aspects of identity', 'developing coping strategies'). (3) Symptoms (subthemes-'managing pain', 'freedom of movement', 'restriction and adaptation of function'). (4) Interpersonal relationships (subthemes-'difficulties socially connecting' and 'changes in sexual relations'). (5) Employment (subthemes-'financial pressure', 'return to work issues' and 'costs to family'). This is the first phenomenological qualitative study in the field of AWH and presents a rich account of what is important to these patients in terms of QoL. Developed from the patients' own words, the themes are interrelated and should shape our understanding of patients with AWH. This study provides qualitative examples of each theme. This study has identified new themes (body image, interpersonal relationships and employment) that are not incorporated in existing AWH-specific QoL instruments. This is important for surgeons because the study suggests that we are currently not capturing all data relevant to QoL in this specific patient group with current tools. The wider impact of this would be to help counsel patients and support them more holistically through the disease process and it's management. Further research is needed to generate a standardised AWH QoL instrument which incorporates bio-psycho-emotional-social themes important to patients, as identified by patients. [Abstract copyright: © 2022. Crown.

A laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a difference: the case of an incidentally detached gallbladder

This is the first report of a non-traumatic detached gallbladder noted incidentally during an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Gallbladder surgery is commonly performed, and many unfamiliar anatomical and pathological findings have been reported. Complete disconnection of the gallbladder from the liver bed, cystic artery and duct has been previously described following trauma, but to the best of the authors’ knowledge this is the only published report of non-traumatic gallbladder detachment. This report is significant as it presents a previously unreported finding that may confront a surgeon during the common surgical procedure of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abdominal wall hernia and mental health: patients lived experiences and implications for patient care

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall hernia (AWH) affects mental health and mental health questions are frequently included within Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMS) for this patient population. However, these questions have not been informed by the subjective lived experiences of mental health in AWH patients. This study is the first to qualitatively examine how AWH affects patients’ mental health. METHODS: Fifteen patients were interviewed from a purposive sample of AWH patients until no new themes emerged. Interviews explored patient thoughts and experiences of AWH and mental health. Data were examined using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). RESULTS: Three key themes pertaining to mental health were identified: “psychological and emotional distress”, “identity disruption” and “coping mechanisms and support systems”. CONCLUSION: Our findings illustrate that AWH is a pathology that can have a significant detrimental impact on people’s mental health. This impact has implications for patient care and can be treated and managed through better psychological support. This support may positively affect AWH patient’s experience and outcomes in terms of quality of life. This paper provides recommendations for improved AWH patient care in regard to mental health. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10029-022-02699-3

Novel insights into patient’s thoughts about their body image in abdominal wall hernia

Background Abdominal wall hernias (AWH) are frequently large and deforming. Despite this, little is known about how AWH impact upon body image. This study is the first study to qualitatively examine patients’ subjective lived experiences of how AWH affects their body image. Methods Fifteen patients were interviewed from a purposive sample of AWH patients awaiting surgery until no new narrative themes emerged. Interviews explored patient thoughts and experiences of AWH and body image. Data were examined using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results Two key themes pertaining to body image were identified: “Changes to perceptions of self” and “Fears concerning other’s perceptions of them”. Both themes were often interrelated and displayed detrimental effects AWH had on patients’ body image. Conclusions Our findings illustrate that AWH detrimentally affected patients’ body image. This aspect of patient care can be treated and managed through better pre-operative information, including on body image as part of a holistic needs assessment (HNA), and ensuring the results are addressed in a patient care package. These development suggestions may positively affect the AWH patient’s experience and outcomes in terms of Quality of Life (QoL) by preparing patients better for realistic results regarding what can be achieved in terms of form, function thus making a more holistic recovery from surgery

A novel approach for treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus: less is more

BACKGROUND: The surgical management of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus (PS) is still a matter of discussion. Therapy ranges from complete wide excision with or without closure of the wound to excochleation of the sinus with a brush. In this paper, we introduce a novel limited excision technique. The aim of this study was to assess the morbidity and recurrence rate of this technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Limited excision consisted of a selective extirpation of the sinus after tagging the tract with methylene blue. Ninety-three consecutive patients, who underwent surgery between 2001 and 2004, were analyzed. The patients' survey was performed by mail questionnaire and telephone interview inquiring recurrence, time off work, and time to wound healing. RESULTS: Seventy-three percent of the patients were treated in an outpatient setting. With a median follow-up of 2 years, the recurrence rate was 5%. The median time off work was 2 weeks. The median wound healing time was 5 weeks. CONCLUSION: Limited excision for PS can be done in an outpatient setting with a low recurrence rate and short time off work